MERA25 municipal election candidates Ilse Terheggen and Rienk Jelte Aalbers have spoken out against the planned sale and conversion of the former tax office on Tesselschadestraat in Leeuwarden into a hotel. The building, which has stood empty since 2017, is set to be developed by Van der Valk, a move that prioritises profit over people.
For Ilse and Rienk, the issue is not development itself, but the direction it takes.
“This is not about being against development,” says Ilse. “It is about choosing development that helps the people who live here. Public buildings should support real needs: housing, meeting spaces, and community life. That is how we build a future people actually want to stay in.”
At a time of housing shortages, rising social pressure and limited non-commercial public spaces, they argue that publicly owned buildings should first and foremost serve residents. Instead of becoming a hotel, the former tax office could be transformed into affordable housing, a community hub, cultural workspaces – or a combination of these. Such a socially oriented use, they contend, would strengthen everyday life and create inclusive spaces where people can meet, participate and feel at home.
While hotel capacity in and around Leeuwarden continues to grow, many residents struggle to find affordable housing or accessible gathering places outside commercial venues. This reflects a broader political choice about how scarce urban space is allocated: for private profit, or for strengthening social bonds and democratic life.
MERA25 stands for treating public buildings and land as common goods, where social value, sustainability and participation take precedence. In this spirit, the candidates call for meaningful citizen participation in decisions about the future of public property, a strong social and environmental assessment before public assets are sold, and urban planning that prioritises housing, culture and community life alongside economic activity.
“A neighbourhood becomes stronger when people can shape it together,” Ilse adds. “This building should become a place that belongs to the people who live here – not only financially, but socially and democratically as well.”
The debate over the former tax office is key for MERA25, as it demonstrates why participatory democracy is central to the municipal election campaign: involving residents early and seriously leads to development that is fairer, more sustainable and more widely supported.
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